Atlanta Hawks: Video: Looking ahead
I talked Hawks today with CineSport’s Noah Coslov.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
276 comments Add your comment
Buddy Grizzard
May 19th, 2011
4:51 pm
The Rick Sund Glue Factory Committee would like to commend the Atlanta Hawks organization for providing the Old Horse a one-year contract extension per our recommendation. The Committee recognizes that Sund has put the Hawks in the best possible position to win next year on the basis of talent acquired, having retained Joe Johnson, drafted Jeff Teague and traded for Kirk Hinrich.
The Committee fully expects that Sund will, if necessary, continue to save Las Vegas Lame Duck Larry Drew by declining to resign Josh Powell, widely regarded as the worst player in the NBA, and declining to extend a washed-up Jamal Crawford.
Sautee
May 19th, 2011
5:02 pm
“If shooting all jumpers, and never wanting to guard anybody bigger than him is not soft, I don’t know what is.”
“Never” Rod? Hyperbole again, my friend. I certainly get your point, but I seem to remember Al guarding Roy Hibbert, Chris Kaman, Andrew Bogut, and many other bigger centers. Hell, if he ONLY guarded centers his size or smaller he’d be limited to Chuck Hayes and Joel Anthony, right?
Try to at least be fair in your criticism. Al’s play since Griffin knocked him down certainly deserves criticism, but to say he “never” wants to guard bigger players is not only untrue, but not defensible.
GarbageCollector
May 19th, 2011
5:10 pm
The hawks should package a trade with the Dallas Mavericks and trade Al Horford, Marvin Williams and Kirk Hinrich for Dirk Norwinski. Dirk is the greatest shooter of the basketball in the history of the NBA and would be a welcome addition in an Atlanta Hawks unform.
Buddy Grizzard
May 19th, 2011
5:11 pm
The Committee further recommends that the Hawks Organization now take the opportunity to sh1t can Lame Duck and hire Dwayne Casey, the Old Horse’s original preference. Lame Duck Larry has demonstrated in front of a national TV audience that he is such a pathetic excuse for a coach that he can’t even properly employ ECF-level talent when provided with it.
To wit: Josh Powell first big man off the bench? All-NBA Al sat for an entire half of a playoff game with Sund’s and Lame Duck’s jobs on the line? Starting Jason Collins against CHI’s fast, athletic big men? Subbing out Teague in Game 6 to let Jamal Crawford run point and put the Hawks in an insurmountable double-digit first quarter deficit? Leaving Jamal Crawford in for the entire fourth quarter on a 1-for-9 shooting night while Zaza, with the best +/- of any Hawk in the playoffs, sits the entire 4th?
The committee considers the case against Hollinger, Bradley and Big Ray-endorsed Las Vegas Lame Duck Larry Drew to be open and shut. Having locked the Hawks into the current personnel for the foreseeable future, the only additional move Sund can make at this point to improve the team would be to fire Lame Duck and sign an actual, professional-level NBA head coach.
Sautee
May 19th, 2011
5:18 pm
Buddy Grizzard,
Did you ever go back and accuse Big Ray of using a straw man?
Oh yeah, that’s right, you don’t really know what one is. Sorry I asked.
Rod from College Park
May 19th, 2011
5:18 pm
Sautee,
If you want to continue to nitpick, which you have the right to do, you can, but the fact remains that Al has turned soft. At the end of this season, and in the playoffs he played soft as wet baby thighs. Rebounds do not prove your toughness, when you are one of two rebounders on the floor. Guess what, when Josh and Al are on the floor together, they are the only two guys who can rebound besides Joe. It’s like Jordan Crawford, he might really be a good player, but can we make that determination based on the end of the season with the Wizards? With the team they put on the floor, somebody has to score. With the team we put on the floor, somebody has to rebound. Al never guarded Dwight Howard, and rarely guarded Noah. I can’t think of any other All Star, All NBA center in the league, who would have not wanted to accept that challenge in some way. Al has become soft period. If Dirk Nowitski has been considered soft for this many years because all he does is shoot jumpshots, then Al fits that description.
Sautee
May 19th, 2011
5:36 pm
Rod,
I believe (without checking) that I have mentioned Al playing soft in every post about him today. I also co-signed Najeh’s post about rebounding not equating to toughness, so I don’t get that point from you.
“Al never guarded Dwight Howard, and rarely guarded Noah.”
His choice or LD’s? I know for a fact that he guarded Howard at times, so “never” is once again hyperbole. If that’s nitpicking to call you on it, then I’m guilty. I think I care more about language than many on this blog, but that’s my own cross to bear.
.
It seemed to me that Al was switched onto Boozer in some of the games because Josh was having trouble with him. Perhaps I’m “misremembering” and some other bloggers will remember it better..
And I’m sure you’ve seen me post that I want the Al Horford from 07 to 09 back. Don’t try to paint me as some kind of Horford apologist. My criticisms of him in many posts today, fly in the face of that notion. I’d just like criticism on the blog to be fair, and not overly exaggerated.
Rod from College Park
May 19th, 2011
5:39 pm
In my opinion, this Al is a natural 4 stuff is hogwash. He is listed as 6′10, 245. He is not a natural 4. He has no post moves, and his lateral quickness for a 4 is lacking. It will be much harder for him to be a dominant 4 than it will for him to be an above average center. He is the same height as Kendrick Perkins. I don’t hear guys like D. Wade, and Ray Allen whining about having to play the 2 at 6′4, and 6′5, having to play against guys who are a inch or two taller than them, and stronger than them, like Joe Johnson and Kobe Bryant. A 4 at 6′10, 245 would be bigger than most 4’s and should be able to dominate in the post, or on the perimeter, like Dirk. We know that Al can’t do that right now.
Rod from College Park
May 19th, 2011
5:46 pm
“It seemed to me that Al was switched onto Boozer in some of the games because Josh was having trouble with him. Perhaps I’m “misremembering” and some other bloggers will remember it better..
Yeah you were misremembering. Josh Blocked Boozer a couple of times. Al did nothing.
Sautee
May 19th, 2011
5:57 pm
Rod,
In my opinion, he’s a center. An undersized center against much of the league, but a center. If I coached him, I’d send him into the paint and feed him til he learned how to survive. I’m glad that he has a good jump shot, but we have LOTS of jump shooters, while we need inside scoring, particularly if Josh is hanging on the perimeter as well (both of them should be in the paint MUCH more, IMO).
Before this year, he had his baby hook going against bigger players, which make me wonder if Drew gave up on posting Al. Even in our debacle against the Magic last year, he hit some baby hooks over DHoward. But he is too slow setting it up, and has no left hand counter so he makes himself easy to guard down low.
He desperately needs a better post game and a better left hand. I told Najeh one time that my wish for the off season would be for Josh and Al to play one-on-one every day ONLY with their off hands. And only post moves, no jumpers.
Of course, Josh would dominate Al at first, but he’d get better, and so would Josh.
Hey, a guy can dream, can’t he?
Rod from College Park
May 19th, 2011
6:02 pm
“He desperately needs a better post game and a better left hand. I told Najeh one time that my wish for the off season would be for Josh and Al to play one-on-one every day ONLY with their off hands. And only post moves, no jumpers.
Of course, Josh would dominate Al at first, but he’d get better, and so would Josh.”
No arguments from me!!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 19th, 2011
6:20 pm
That is a great idea for both Smoove and Al. Smoove needs to develop his right hand in the worst way and Al needs to develop a go-to post move.
Sautee
May 19th, 2011
6:29 pm
“Smoove needs to develop his right hand in the worst way and Al needs to develop a go-to post move.”
Actually, I’d rather that Josh develop his right hand in the “best” way.
What a strange language we have, eh?
Grandad
May 19th, 2011
6:59 pm
Najeh;
agreed Al needs a go to post move,
regardless if he’s a center or a left.
On the other hand,
Steph Curry;
as much as I like Teaguer,
I would trade Jeff for Curry straight up.
Personnally, I think SC is gonna be a star.
Maybe even a SS.
Nonetheless, jeff gets him with speed qicknee and defense,
while Curry is both a marvelous passer and shooter.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,
and rarely do I choose offense over defense,
I just think this kid is special.
Grandad
May 19th, 2011
7:01 pm
crap, I need to learn to type or start editing my crap.
Mike is back
May 19th, 2011
7:08 pm
MC, you were being candid about Jamal…but you were on point with everything you said.
To Jamal, I know you read the blogs…I agree that it’s time to go a different way…your SPECTACULAR PLAY…WAS GREATLY APPRECIATED…heck, you will probably end up winning a title…like that dang Bibby…opssssssssss…anyway it’s gon be gooooood folk.
Peace OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Grandad
May 19th, 2011
7:17 pm
R from CP
On L.Aldridge;
I’ve always liked the kid.
(wished he were a Hawk)
But he has always been soft;
by definition of *those on this board.
*[vava]
Yes he had a break out year.
Your post sort of proved my attempt at………
satire or irony ?
(or one of those words I should have distincted in college)
[instead I stunk in college]
Dept. of Unintended Irony
May 19th, 2011
7:22 pm
“crap, I need to learn to type or start editing my crap.”
Editing your crap. Isn’t that what a colonoscopy does?
Dept. of Unintended Irony
May 19th, 2011
7:28 pm
“I think I care more about language than many on this blog, but that’s my own cross to bear”.- Sautee
“Before this year, he had his baby hook going against bigger players, which make me wonder if Drew gave up on posting Al.” – Sautee
Maybe you still don’t care enough.
Grandad
May 19th, 2011
7:28 pm
I can’t top that.
Sautee
May 19th, 2011
7:32 pm
LOL At DOUI
Maybe I need a colonoscopy!
Grandad
May 19th, 2011
7:57 pm
I sure hope we don’t get that soft ass Mark Gasol as a FA.
7-1, 265 lbs and only avg 7 rebs durin’ the reg season.
Okay, okay, you say he avg 11 durin’ the post season !
So now he’s mean, tough, hombre ?
Obviously he converted;
had an epiphany.
Will he stay epiphanized…..or will he go the way of Al ?
Or, maybe the play-offs were a fluke?
(21 game sample)
maybe he really is deep down a soft ass?
Al’s career;
always been a fan favorite.
Until that villain Blake Griffin took him down.
(remember how we gushed when he rose up to hit those FT’s)
How about as late as Jan 28th when he had 14 rebs -vs- Amare?
Including;
19 pts on “only” 12 shots, 6 assts, 1 key blk -v- Amare late.
What did we think of Al that night?
Then he just woke up one morning and said;
” I think I shall become a sissy ” !
Well, so much for al’s epiphany !
Oh, by the way, Al is 24 yrs old will be 25 in June.
Gasol is already 26 as of last Jan.
In case you were gonna say Gasol is young.
* clue…..I never could distinct between the two?
Grandad
May 19th, 2011
8:03 pm
For Sautee -&- Dept.o U.I.
Way too much talk about colonoscopy !
I think I heard Doc say that was next on my agenda ?
Bottoms up…..and I’m a teetotaler !
Dept. of Unintended Irony
May 19th, 2011
8:29 pm
“and I’m a teetotaler !”
I do that at Cracker Barrel waiting for my food.
LorneGreen
May 20th, 2011
10:39 am
I dont know why some of the bloggers out there are brain dead. Josh DID NOT SHOW UP IN THE PLAYOFFS OR WE WOULD HAVE ELIMINATED THE BULLS. JOSH HAD ONE GOOD GAME AND THAT WAS IT. JOSH PLAYED HIS ENTIRE SEASON TO HAVE ONE GOOD GAME IN THE PLAYOFFS AND HE PUT IN HIS WORK FOR THE YEAR. JOSH CAN PLAY LIKE THAT EVERY GAME IF HE WANTS TO. JOSH’S PROBLEM IS THAT HE IS TOO LAZY AND TOO UNMOTIVATED TO WORK HARD. THAT IS AN ATTITUDE PROBLEM THAT CAN ONLY BE FIXED WITH THE RIGHT COACH GETTING ON HIM. THE COACH’S NAME IS JERRY SLOAN. BRING JERRY IN HERE AND THE HAWKS WILL WIN A TITLE IN HIS FIRST SEASON.
DinasaurFenton
May 20th, 2011
11:28 am
Every Hawks fan right now is in hog heaven. They all know just how great this team is about to become. I will give you five reasons why Hawks fans should be more than excited. #1:Jeff Teague-Teague was unleased in the playoffs and showed himself to be as good as Deron Williams or Chris Paul.#2:Jamal Crawford-Even though Jamal slumped in the Chicago series, Jamal was awesome in the Orlando series and when he is on can shoot the ball like “Pistol” Pete Maravich;#3:Al Horford-Big Al had slumped for the majority of the playoffs including the Chicago series, but when Al wakes up, that sleeping giant will remind us all of Wilt Chamberlain;#4-Josh Smoove-Although Smith is erratic, turnover prone and uncoachable, when he is on he is every bit as good as LaBron James or D-Wade; and #5:Joe Johnson-Joe Johnson proved in the Orlando series that he is still the second best closer in the game behind Kobe Bryant and a certain FIRST BALLOT FUTURE HALL OF FAMER.